Meta’s initial focus on mixed reality features, including higher resolution passthrough cameras, was delayed due to Quest 2’s market dominance and the higher price point of Quest 3, which slowed its adoption.

Initially, most developers concentrated on VR content compatible with both Quest 2 and Quest 3, delaying optimization for Quest 3’s higher resolution and power, with some titles like Asgard’s Wrath 2 not optimized until five months after Quest 3's release.

The combined share of Quest 3 and Quest 3S now accounts for 34.55% of Steam VR headsets, indicating a clear generational transition.

The rise of Quest 3 signifies a shift in the VR industry, with developers increasingly prioritizing content optimized for its mixed reality capabilities and higher performance.

While Quest 2 remains the second most-used headset, the market trend is clearly favoring Quest 3, encouraging more developers to focus on this newer device.

This growth in Quest 3 usage indicates that the VR industry is aligning more with Meta’s vision of mixed reality, with future content likely to be tailored for Quest 3 and 3S.

Meta's Quest 3 has become the most-used VR headset on Steam, surpassing Quest 2 after nearly two years since its release on October 10, 2023, now holding a 26.68% share of VR headsets used on Steam.

This shift marks a significant milestone in the VR ecosystem, with Quest 3's rise reflecting a broader industry trend and prompting developers to focus more on optimizing content for the newer device.

Quest 2, launched in October 2020, dominated the Steam VR market for over four years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for home entertainment surged.